Linux Air Combat Files

This is the SourceForge.net folder for downloading the Raspberry Pi version of Linux Air Combat.

The file named "Lac09p77WithSourceCodePrecompiledForRaspberryPi5.tar" contains the latest LAC source code as of mid-September 2024, with flags already set in the "common.h" header file for best compatibility with Raspberry Pi hardware on the "RASPBIAN" and "RaspberryPiOs" operating systems. Whether you are compiling for the Pi4b, Pi400, Pi500, or Pi5, this source code will work for you. You shouldn't need to change even a single line of code. It's already precompiled for the 64-bit Raspberry Pi5, or you can recompile it for the Pi4b or Pi400.

To help you automate the process of downloading, compiling, installing, and configuring this software on your Raspberry Pi, we have three scripts that you can download and run, and they do all of the heavy lifting for you. There are 3 separate scripts. They for:

   1 of 3: Raspberry Pi 5 (64 bit)
   2 of 3: Raspberry Pi 4b or Raspberry Pi model 400 (32 bit)
   3 of 3: Raspberry Pi 4b or Raspberry Pi model 400 (64 bit)

At the time of this writing in mid Sep2024, all of those scripts can be found in the "AutomaticInstallScriptsForRaspberryPi/BetaTestVersions subfolder. Drill down into that folder and download the script that best matches your Raspberry Pi hardware and operating system. Mark the script "executable" according to longstanding unix/linux norms and run it in a bash shell. It will automatically download the source code, compile it for your Pi, install it, and configure it for easy use. You shouldn't need to lift a finger other than to watch the process! For many people, all of these files will work for you. Only if you have not yet downloaded and installed one or more of LAC's prerequisite, standard software libraries should it matter which of these files you download. However, it you need to download and install one or more of LAC's prerequisite, standard software libraries or if you are doing something unusual, you might prefer one of the files over the other two. In that case, read thru the text and try to match with the appropriate file.

Here's a web page with several short YouTube video clips about LAC on Raspberry Pi:

https://askmisterwizard.com/2019/LinuxAirCombat/LacOnRaspberryPi.htm

Any "*.apk" and "*.tar" files stored here contain Linux Air Combat source code for use on Raspberry Pi 4b, Pi5, Raspberry Pi Model 400, and Raspberry Pi 500 hardware on the "Raspberry Pi OS" or "Raspbian" operating systems. Even the smallest (2GB) Raspberry Pi 4b can run this software. On Pi4b or Pi400 hardware, LAC runs nicely in 1280x720 resolution at graphic detail level "2" with render distance set to "110" or "120". On Pi5 hardware, LAC runs nicely in 1280x720 resolution even with graphic detail raised to "3" and with render distance increased all the way up to "180". All of these settings are easily competitive online versus other players!

Here's a direct link to our "LAC on Raspberrry Pi" forum, where you can find lots of additional help:

https://sourceforge.net/p/linuxaircombat/discussion/laconraspberrypi/

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR RASPBERRY PI 4 and 400 USERS: LAC RUNS NICELY IN FULL-SCREEN, 720P VIDEO RESOLUTION, BUT DUE TO A WELL-KNOWN QUIRK OF RASPBERRY PI 4 HARDWARE, THAT VIDEO CONFIGURATION GENERATES A LOT OF RADIO INTERFERENCE THAT IMPEDES WIFI OPERATION IN THE POPULAR 2.4 GHZ FREQUENCEY BAND. ACCORDINGLY, WE RECOMMEND SWITCHING YOUR RASPBERY PI TO THE 5GHZ WIFI BAND unless your Raspberry Pi is located VERY close to your WiFi router.

If you don't want to use our preconfigured shell scripts to automate the download/compile/install/configure processes, then after downloading one of these files on your Raspberry Pi, you can de-archive it with a right-click.

Move the resulting new folder to a convenient location of your choosing in your local filesystem (but remember where you put it).

When compiling for the classic old "Raspbian" operating sytem, you may need to install three free, well-known software libraries with the "Add / Remove Software" tool beforehand. Those three prerequisite libraries are:

1 of 3: freeglut3-dev-2.8.1-3
2 of 3: libsdl-dev-1.2.15-dfsg2-4+rpt2
3 of 3: libsdl-mixer1.2-dev-1.2.12-15

When compiling for the new "Raspberry Pi OS" operating system, you must install just two free, well-known software libraries. They are:

1 of 2: "Image loading library for Simple DirectMedia Layer 1.2 development files"
2 of 2: "Mixer library for Simple DirectMedia Layer 1.2 development files"


NOTE: It is probable that you can choose any of the install strategies whether you are compiling 32 bit, 64 bit,Raspbian or Raspberry Pi operating system. We are still learning about this.

After you've obtained the appropriate prerequisite software libraries, fire up a "bash" console and use the "cd" command to enter the folder with the de-archived LAC files you downloaded. At that point you should be able to run "make" according to longstanding LINUX/UNIX norms, and the source code will compile, without errors, within about 2 or 3 minutes. Then run our "install.sh" script by typing the command "sudo ./install.sh". Upon successful completion of that installation script, LAC will run from a bash shell as documented.

All of this can be automated by downloading appropriate shell scripts that we publish in our "LAC on Raspberry Pi" forum. Here's the link:

https://sourceforge.net/p/linuxaircombat/discussion/laconraspberrypi/

To execute lac after installing, just open a bash shell and issue the following command:

lac

... just type "lac" (without quote marks) and terminate your command with <ENTER> according to long-standing UNIX/LINUX norms. That will work from anywhere in your filesystem, because our install.sh script copies the executable into the global /usr filesystem at /usr/bin/lac.

You can get lots of help from our main Raspberry Pi web page here:

https://askmisterwizard.com/2019/LinuxAirCombat/LacOnRaspberryPi.htm



CONTENTS: Your new de-archived folder contains: 

-- A compiled version of Linux Air combat in the bin/Release subfolder. (This version has been compiled for 64-bit Raspberry Pi 5 on Raspberry Pi OS with "ARM" hardware. If you are using some other system, you will be better off with one of our other download packages from our main archive, available elsewhere on SourceForge.net).

-- An installation script named "install.sh" that will install and configure Linux Air Combat. LAC will be installed in your global "/usr" filesystem. The executable will be at /usr/bin/lac, and other resources will be in additional new folders at /usr/share/lac.

-- All of the source code necessary to compile or customize your own version of Linux Air Combat 

-- A "Codeblocks Project File" to make it easy to use the well-known "Codeblocks" compiler GUI in case you want to dig deeper into the source code for substantive changes.

-- A "bin" subfolder containing all other necessary resources 

-- A "Makefile" for those that don't want to use "CodeBlocks" when compiling. 

HARDWARE NOTES: Linux Air Combat is compatible with all of the leading versions of desktop LINUX. It is known to run nicely on 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB versions of the very popular, low-cost Raspberry Pi model "4b" and model "400". It runs even better on Raspberry Pi 5 hardware. It generally runs acceptably on any Computer ever built with enough power to run any version of Microsoft Windows. Any PC built since about 2007 should support it well enough to enjoy smooth flight in a large window.

FLIGHT CONTROLS: A "numeric keypad" helps a lot, because numeric keypad keys are used, by default, to help you look left, right, forward, backward, up, or down while you are flying your aircraft. A standard, full-size keyboard also helps a lot, since the physical arrangement of flight controls is optimized for the usual keyboard layout (but you can re-map your keyboard keys for your convenience if you want to work out some other control layout). LAC can use your joystick, a USB "console game controller", or your mouse/keyboard for flight control. 

DISPLAYS: At the time of this writing in January of 2024, we have only used the standard HDMI video interface to verify successful operation of Linux Air Combat on Raspberry Pi 4b and 400 models. We've had best results when configured at "720P" resolution.

PREREQUISITES: Whether you just want to try running the precompiled version that is delivered in our standard download, or whether you will compile your own executable version from the supplied source code, your desktop LINUX system ALWAYS needs some supporting library files. If you are missing one or more of these pre-requisites, descriptive error messages will be displayed on the invoking bash console or compiler GUI to help you identify them, whereupon you can download them from the Raspberry Pi repository according to well-established procedures.


The official download archive files for Linux Air Combat are often named like this: 

Lac09p75PrecompiledForRaspberryPi.tar

The size should be about 78.8 megabytes as advertised on SourceForge

Full instructions for de-archiving and using these download archives can be found online here: 

https://askmisterwizard.com/2019/LinuxAirCombat/LacOnlineDocs.htm

All versions since 7.92 are functionally interoperable online. However, newer versions are easier to install and configure and include better support for USB console-game controllers, Raspberry Pi keyboards, and new multimedia features that contribute to learning and enjoyment. Several recent improvements result in better program stability, easier configuration, smarter "bots", and the visual perception of network opponents is less "jittery". Everybody is encouraged to upgrade.

Newer versions also include several experimental new online missions beyond the original three "classic" ones. At the time of this writing in Jan2024, only two of these have been released for serious use by virtual pilots, but new Mission Developers can use the others as the basis for creation of larger and more complex missions. We encourage you to experiment with them. In LAC's menus, all of these are clearly labeled "TEST:" or "BETA TEST". The source code implementing each of these new missions is documented with EXTREMELY detailed and helpful comments. Many of these new missions are functionally identical, and are likely to remain so until each is "adopted" and subsequently enhanced by a new LAC Mission Developer.